Stock Photo - Picarel, Spicara smaris, shoal. Spicara smaris is a sociable fish, forming large groups with others of its species. It is a protogynous sequential hermaphrodite, individuals maturing as females and becoming males at some later point. All individuals over about 17.9 cm (7.0 in) are male and the maximum age for a male is six years while for a female it is four. Breeding takes place once a year and the colour of a male becomes brighter at this time. The male then guards these until the eggs hatch. It's a popular food in parts of southern Italy, Dalmatia, and Greece. Spain, Mediterranean Sea